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Update: Subway Bombing in NYC a Terror Attack

By Alexa Lardieri

This article covers an incident that brought much attention to New York City. Akayed Ullah, 27 years old, was almost successful in bombing an underground subway platform near Times Square. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio claims there are no other credible threats to the city and no known additional known activities or incidents.

"The choice of New York is always for a reason because we're a beacon to the world and we actually show that a society of many faiths and many backgrounds can work and we show that democracy can work and our enemies want to undermine that and the terrorists want to undermine that," de Blasio said (Lardieri, A. 2017).

We can describe an act of violence as terrorism when this violent act causes or intends to cause widespread terror. Usually this terrifying act has a political goal (although there may be nihilistic terrorists who blow up things just for fun) (Mackinnon, B. & Fiala, A., 2017, p.538).

The city’s Police Commissioner stated that Ullah had been wearing an explosive device strapped to his body. The suspect was reported injured with burns and wounds around his abdomen. He was transferred to Bellevue hospital along with three other people. An ongoing investigation is currently taking place. New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the "reality is, we are a target … but we are a savvy people and we have the best law enforcement on the globe” (Lardieri, A. 2017).

References

Lardieri, A. (2017). Update: Subway Bombing in NYC a Terror Attack. US News. Retrieved from https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2017-12-11/update-subway-bombing-in-nyc-a-terror-attack (Links to an external site.)

Mackinnon, B. & Fiala, A. (2017). Ethics: Theory and contemporary issues. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

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Update: Subway Bombing in NYC a Terror Attack

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio speak to reporters Monday following an attempted terror attack in a Manhattan subway station.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday the bombing in an underground subway platform near Times Square was "an attempted terrorist attack" carried out by 27-year-old Akayed Ullah.

However, he was "unsuccessful in his aims," de Blasio said at a press conference, adding there are no other credible threats to the city and no additional known activities or incidents.

"The choice of New York is always for a reason because we're a beacon to the world and we actually show that a society of many faiths and many backgrounds can work and we show that democracy can work and our enemies want to undermine that and the terrorists want to undermine that," de Blasio said.

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New York City Police Commissioner James O'Neil told reporters the suspect was wearing an improvised, low-tech explosive device strapped to his body. The device was intentionally detonated while Ullah was walking underground from the 42nd Street and 8th Avenue subway platform to the 42nd Street and 7th Avenue avenue platform.

Ullah suffered major injuries, including burns and wounds to his abdomen, and was transported to Bellevue hospital. Three other people took themselves to other nearby hospitals, reporting minor injuries, including ringing in the ears and headaches, New York Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said.

When asked if the bomber had connections to ISIS, O'Neil said Ullah "made statements," but declined to comment further. The Joint Terrorist Task Force is running a background check on Ullah.

New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the "reality is, we are a target ... but we are a savvy people and we have the best law enforcement on the globe."

Although there was a disruption of train and bus service while law enforcement searched the area, most services have resumed, and officials say full service will be running by tonight's rush hour commute.

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Update: Subway Bombing in NYC a Terror Attack

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Update: Subway Bombing in NYC a Terror Attack New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio speak to reporters Monday following an attempted terror attack in a Manhattan subway station. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday the bombing in an underground subway platform near Times Square was "an attempted terrorist attack" carried out by 27-year-old Akayed Ullah.

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Suite of Papers Shed Light on Decade-Long Stem Cell Mystery

By Monash University

Monash University’s research team has provided us with a broader perspective on cell reprogramming, changing one type of cell into almost any other cell in the human body. This allows researchers to create any tissue to repair damaged organs and aid in transplantation. Stem cell research is part of the field of regenerative medicine. One long-term goal of such research is to produce new cells, tissues, and organs that can be used to treat disease or injury (Mackinnon, B. & Fiala, A., 2017, p.494).

The discovery of induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) cells began in 2006. Although the iPS cells could produce any cell, there were risks such as rejection in the human body and limitation of transplantation. More than a full decade has passed, and the mystery of being able to understand the programming factors was unresolved. In 2012, Associate Professor Polo has published three of his studies, shedding new light of evidence.

The first study, published this week in Cell Reports, is the result of an international collaboration led by Associate Professor Polo and Dr. Owen Rackham from Duke-NUS Singapore. It built on landmark research into iPS cells that Associate Professor Polo conducted in 2012, which described a 'roadmap' of what was happening in the process of reprogramming fibroblasts (skin cells) into stem cells. "Before our 2012 study it was a black box about how the fibroblasts used for reprogramming became iPS cells -- we traced the roadmap of what happened," Associate Professor Polo said (Monash University). The roadmap was not the same for every cell type. The path to pluripotency depended on the original cell. In order to further understand the process they needed to look through different lenses, understand how reprogramming transcription factors switched specific genes, and the mechanisms of the chromatin.

Co-first author, Monash BDI's Dr. Anja Knaupp added: "Through our molecular analyses we are now able to better understand and consequently improve the reprogramming process which is essential if we want to eventually move this technology into clinical applications," said Dr. Knaupp (Monash University). Over time, their studies have evolved in something that can carry over into medicine. It can help regenerate cells, development, and even cancer. Research in cell reprogramming has brought the team to newer heights, shedding light on the mystery, and has paved the way of the future.

References

Mackinnon, B. & Fiala, A. (2017). Ethics: Theory and contemporary issues. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

Monash University. (2017). Suite of Papers Shed Light on Decade-Long Stem Cell Mystery. ScienceDaily. Retrieved from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/12/171207141818.htm

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A series of studies led by Monash University researcher Associate Professor Jose Polo have this week shed light on vital, yet previously unclear, aspects of cell reprogramming.

Cell reprogramming, in which one type of cell can be turned into almost any other type cell in the human body, is revolutionising medicine. It gives scientists the capacity theoretically to create any tissue to repair damaged organs such as the heart or liver, or for use in transplantation.

In 2006, the Japanese researchers who made the Nobel Prize-winning discovery of induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) cells identified a set of four transcription factors as being capable of turning any cell into iPS cells. These iPS cells, as with embryonic stem cells, have the potential to produce any cell of the body, but avoiding the use of embryos or carrying the risk of being rejected by the patient's body, a limitation of transplantation.

Yet more than a decade later it was still not fully understood precisely how these reprogramming factors work.

"You don't need to know about mechanics to drive a car from A to B, but if something goes wrong or you want to improve the car's performance, then you do need to know how a car works in order to fix or improve it," said Associate Professor Polo.

Remarkably, and testament to the world-leading research being undertaken in his lab, two of Associate Professor Polo's studies were published within a week of each other in highly regarded Cell Press journals, unearthing new evidence in this decade-long mystery, while a third related study was published late last month in Nature Methods.

Monash's Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) and Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute's Associate Professor Polo is an expert in the field of iPS cells.

The first study, published this week in Cell Reports, is the result of an international collaboration led by Associate Professor Polo and Dr Owen Rackham from Duke-NUS Singapore. It built on landmark research into iPS cells that Associate Professor Polo conducted in 2012 which described a 'roadmap' of what was happening in the process of reprogramming fibroblasts (skin cells) into stem cells.

"Before our 2012 study it was a black box about how the fibroblasts used for reprogramming became iPS cells -- we traced the roadmap of what happened," Associate Professor Polo said.

In this new work, the team found that the roadmap was not the same for every cell type.

Using fibroblasts, neutrophils (white blood cells) and keratinocytes (another skin cell type) from animal models, the researchers revealed that the route to pluripotency depended on the original cell type.

Monash BDI's biologist Dr Christian Nefzger, joint first author on the paper with bioinformatician Dr Fernando Rossello, said the findings have important implications for research.

"Studying how different cell types convert into pluripotent stem cells revealed that we need to look through different lenses to comprehensively understand and control the process," Dr Nefzger said.

The other study, published today in Cell Stem Cell, led by Associate Professor Polo and Professor Ryan Lister from University of Western Australia, unveiled how the reprogramming transcription factors switch specific genes "on" or "off," or "open" or "close" them.

The Cell Stem Cell study provides an explanation of how these factors do their job.

Genes are part of the chromatin, a complex of DNA and proteins that form chromosomes within the cell nucleus. The scientists were able to explain the mechanisms behind a process in which the reprogramming factors go into areas on the chromatin that open and close.

"This has unveiled areas of the chromatin and transcription factors that previously we didn't know were important in pluripotency," Associate Professor Polo said.

"Now that we know they're significant, we can study these areas in more detail and see what role they may play in development, regeneration or even cancer," he said.

Co-first author, Monash BDI's Dr Anja Knaupp added: "Through our molecular analyses we are now able to better understand and consequently improve the reprogramming process which is essential if we want to eventually move this technology into clinical applications," said Dr Knaupp.

Associate Professor Polo said that such findings may pave the way in the future for tissues to be regenerated within the human body rather than in the laboratory, for the production of 'synthetic cells' with properties tailored to the needs of researchers or clinicians, or for the production of drugs that mimic these factors.

"Every layer we're adding to helps us take a step forward," he said.

Last month's paper in Nature Methods characterised and established a protocol for creating a form of human iPS cells -- 'naïve' cells -- that most closely resemble the first cells of a human embryo.
Story Source:
Materials provided by Monash University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal References:

1. Christian M. Nefzger, Fernando J. Rossello, Joseph Chen, Xiaodong Liu, Anja S. Knaupp, Jaber Firas, Jacob M. Paynter, Jahnvi Pflueger, Sam Buckberry, Sue Mei Lim, Brenda Williams, Sara Alaei, Keshav Faye-Chauhan, Enrico Petretto, Susan K. Nilsson, Ryan Lister, Mirana Ramialison, David R. Powell, Owen J.L. Rackham, Jose M. Polo. Cell Type of Origin Dictates the Route to Pluripotency. Cell Reports, 2017; 21 (10): 2649 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.11.029

2. Anja S. Knaupp, Sam Buckberry, Jahnvi Pflueger, Sue Mei Lim, Ethan Ford, Michael R. Larcombe, Fernando J. Rossello, Alex de Mendoza, Sara Alaei, Jaber Firas, Melissa L. Holmes, Shalima S. Nair, Susan J. Clark, Christian M. Nefzger, Ryan Lister, Jose M. Polo. Transient and Permanent Reconfiguration of Chromatin and Transcription Factor Occupancy Drive Reprogramming. Cell Stem Cell, 2017; 21 (6): 834 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2017.11.007

3. Xiaodong Liu, Christian M Nefzger, Fernando J Rossello, Joseph Chen, Anja S Knaupp, Jaber Firas, Ethan Ford, Jahnvi Pflueger, Jacob M Paynter, Hun S Chy, Carmel M O'Brien, Cheng Huang, Ketan Mishra, Margeaux Hodgson-Garms, Natasha Jansz, Sarah M Williams, Marnie E Blewitt, Susan K Nilsson, Ralf B Schittenhelm, Andrew L Laslett, Ryan Lister, Jose M Polo. Comprehensive characterization of distinct states of human naive pluripotency generated by reprogramming. Nature Methods, 2017; 14 (11): 1055 DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.4436

Cite This Page:

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biotechnology; molecular biology; developmental biology; genetics; biology; biotechnology and bioengineering; cell biology; cloning

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Suite of papers shed light on decade-long stem cell mystery

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A series of studies led by Monash University researcher Associate Professor Jose Polo have this week shed light on vital, yet previously unclear, aspects of cell reprogramming. Cell reprogramming, in which one type of cell can be turned into almost any other type cell in the human body, is revolutionising medicine.

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Belgium’s “Cursed Prince” Complains His

Human Rights Are Being Infringed By Salary Cut

By James Crisp

This article gives us an inside look on Prince Laurent’s claim that his human rights is breached due to a proposed pay cut. The 280,000 reduction was caused by the Prince’s string of unapproved meetings with foreign dignitaries. The Prince exposed himself after tweeting a photo of himself at the Chinese Embassy in Brussels during a party.

The prince’s lawyer sent Mr. Michel a seven-page missive that argued the government ban infringed his fundamental human rights because it would condemn him to “social isolation”. That would amount to a breach of article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights, the letter claimed, before alleging the Belgian government’s public announcement of the prince’s punishment was illegal (Crisp, J. 2017). His lawyer supports his client stating that The Prince would have difficulty finding another job and that his health and image would be damaged.

The Prince has lived through a number of other things such as being forced to pay back the state £14,500 for supermarket bills, skiing holidays, and children’s school fees. Additionally, he was caught speeding 20 mph above the speed limit and added “The Prince of Dogs” to his collection of names after saluting a canine at a parade.

Among these are life itself, as well as liberty and the ability to pursue those things that bring happiness. These are said to be rights not because they are granted by some state, but because of the fact that they are important for us as human beings or persons (Mackinnon, B. & Fiala, A., 2017, p.145). It seems as if he’s experienced some exciting times in his life that would bring him happiness but at the same time he has broken the rules.

References

Crisp, J. (2017). Belgium’s “Cursed Prince” Complains His Human Rights Are Being Infringed By Salary Cut. The Telegraph. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/12/01/belgiums-cursed-prince-complains-human-rights-infringed-salary/

Mackinnon, B. & Fiala, A. (2017). Ethics: Theory and contemporary issues. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

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Cutting his salary would deprive the 54-year-old prince, whose wife is British, and his family of "all livelihoods", according to the letter, which suggests awarding the royal "social security or pension rights".

Prince Laurent, who claims to be suffering from stress brought on by the scandal, said he would give the government ten days' notice of any meetings with any foreign officials rather than accept the cut.

With the combination of cheek and chutzpah that is his trademark, Prince Laurent's lawyer bemoaned his client not being allowed to find work.

He had been stopped "in humiliating ways" from getting a job all his life, the lawyer wrote, which had damaged the bespectacled prince's image and his health.

Mr Michel is under increasing pressure to bring the prince to heel from his Flemish nationalist coalition partners.

His office said the dossier was being subjected to legal scrutiny.

Prince Laurent, who was a helicopter pilot after training in the army and navy, is barely on speaking terms with the rest of Belgium's royal family.

In 2015, the youngest son of the former king and queen Albert II and Paola told public television: "My family has never supported me. It started with my uncle, King Baudouin. Then with my father, Albert II. With them it was like the Stasi. Today, I have the impression it continues with my brother, King Philippe."

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Belgium's 'cursed prince' complains his human rights are being infringed by salary cut

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Cutting his salary would deprive the 54-year-old prince, whose wife is British, and his family of "all livelihoods", according to the letter, which suggests awarding the royal "social security or pension rights". Prince Laurent, who claims to be suffering from stress brought on by the scandal, said he would give the government ten days' notice of any meetings with any foreign officials rather than accept the cut.

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China Limits Waste. “Cardboard Grannies” and Texas Recyclers Scramble

By Mike Ives

The article gives us an inside look on the concerns of China’s decision to ban imported recycling materials. For more than two decades, the world has shipped its paper, plastic, and metal recycled products to China in order for them to be used as raw materials aiding the export-driven manufacturing boom.

But China doesn’t want to be the rest of the world’s trash can. Over the summer, regulators in Beijing started an unusually intense crackdown on what they called “foreign garbage,” citing health and environmental concerns (Ives, M., NY Times). They’ve made efforts to support their decision with port inspections and informing the World Trade Organization that they would ban 24 kinds of imported waste by the end of the year.

Many people rely on the China’s recycling business from Chinese locals trying to make ends meet all the way to waste companies in the US. US recycling businesses may need to invest in upgrading their facilities, which results in higher expenses and taxes. More waste in the country’s landfills could also be a created.

China’s concern over their health and environment stems from a moderate or mixed view of non-anthropocentrism and anthropocentrism. It’s balancing human and non-human interests (Mackinnon, B. & Fiala, A., 2017, p.420). However, I have to say that I do not agree with the decision that’s being made. By shutting down operations that already meant something could potentially do more harm than good. I feel the whole point of having recycling businesses is to help sustain our environment by converting waste materials into new materials.

References

Ives, M., (2017). China Limits Waste. “Cardboard Grannies” and Texas Recyclers Scramble. NY Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/25/business/energy-environment/china-waste-recycling.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

Mackinnon, B. & Fiala, A. (2017). Ethics: Theory and contemporary issues. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

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Fears of widespread domestic pollution were amplified by " Plastic China," a recent documentary film about a bleak town in the eastern province of Shandong where people earn their living by picking through scrap plastics and processing them in machines that belch black smoke. The film went viral in mainland China in January before disappearing from the internet there.

Pollution in the industry is "not only China's problem," said Wang Jiuliang, the film's director.

"It's the world's common challenge," he said.

China's regulatory fight against imported garbage began in 2013, when a flurry of port inspections forced overseas recyclers to clean up their operations and invest in new waste-sorting technologies.

In July, China raised the stakes by telling the World Trade Organization that it would ban 24 kinds of imported waste, including some types of paper and plastics, by the end of the year. Chinese regulators also began restricting wastepaper imports.

"I was angry, but I knew I was just a small businesswoman," Ms. Leung, 63, said of the wastepaper restrictions as she picked through cardboard, polystyrene and soda cans in a rat-infested alley in the Mong Kok district of Hong Kong on a recent morning.

Ms. Leung and thousands of other small-time scrap collectors sell the waste to traders at bare-bones collection points in this semiautonomous Chinese territory. The waste is then processed at recycling depots and exported to mainland China or elsewhere.

In the United States, the new rules mean more garbage could stay at home. While that could be good news for some recyclers, it could also mean more waste in the country's landfills, according to the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, a lobbying group based in Washington.

Recyclers might also have to upgrade their facilities to handle the waste, leading to higher costs for American municipalities and taxpayers, said Adam Minter, a recycling expert and author of " Junkyard Planet: Travels in the Billion-Dollar Trash Trade."

"Without China, there will be less recycling in the United States, and it will cost more," Mr. Minter said.

Workers at Hong Kong's junkyards and scrap depots said that Beijing's new and pending restrictions on waste imports were already affecting their bottom lines.

At a recycling depot on the city's outskirts that looks out onto the Chinese mainland, the manager, Ryan Cheung, said local scrap collectors were selling him more plastics than usual, apparently because the new rules were already limiting their options. As a result, chest-high pallets of off-white packaging film were piling up under the depot's corrugated-metal roof.

"I can't buy anymore," he said, standing near a pitching-mound-size heap of dismembered Barbie dolls as garbage trucks lumbered down a nearby road toward a landfill. "I have too much."

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China Limits Waste. 'Cardboard Grannies' and Texas Recyclers Scramble.

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Fears of widespread domestic pollution were amplified by " Plastic China," a recent documentary film about a bleak town in the eastern province of Shandong where people earn their living by picking through scrap plastics and processing them in machines that belch black smoke.